Woodlands might not have been fighting the flab over the winter but they are certainly fitter than they were in 2009.

After a season of under-achievement in the JCT600 Bradford League, when they finished sixth, they are determined to have more of an impact this time around.

New skipper Pieter Swanepoel might not be able to get a flight back from a short family celebration in South Africa until next Tuesday – he should have returned in time for last Sunday’s Heavy Woollen Cup tie – but his influence during the close season has already been felt.

“It has been marked,” admitted Woodlands’ league representative Phil Godfrey.

“In the past we have left it up to the players to ensure that they got what practice they felt was necessary but under Pieter players have had to be there every week from eight until then, and when I say from eight I mean they had to ready for eight – there was no chit-chatting.

“Also a lot of the players have lost weight – Tim Orrell for example has lost two stone.

“And even in Swanny’s absence, vice-captain Chris Brice has been carrying on his fitness regime.”

Godfrey has had time to reflect on last season and says: “We needed to get more runs into the team, reduce the average age and, like many clubs have had to do, reduce the overall wage bill, and we have done all three.

"Yes, Tim is 40 and Nicky Rushworth is nearly 40 but we have brought in youngsters such as Adam Wood and Wayne Richardson’s son Scott, and Sam Frankland and Danny Shuffe aren’t that old either.”

Swanepoel could have had less important weekends to be absent.

Woodlands are at East Bierley in the league tomorrow and return there on Sunday for the delayed 2009 final of the Black Sheep Yorkshire Champions’ Trophy against York.

“Swanny will be a big miss,” said Godfrey, “but York are without their big overseas star Dan Wilson.

“However, they do have Simon Mason, Duncan Snell and Tom Pringle, who used to play for Cleckheaton.

“East Bierley is one of my favourite grounds – there is always good banter there – and I would hope that we could win the Champions’ Trophy twice in one season.

“However, to do that we must win on Sunday to get into this year’s event, and even if we do that there are a lot of good teams in it.”

SELECTED TEAMS Bolton Villas (home to Follifoot): S Shuttleworth, S Wilson, L Margerison, D Gaunt, S Wade, B Hawksworth, M Oldfield, S Lawrence, C Spivey, A Sutcliffe, S Ryder.

Bradford & Bingley (at Baildon): P Slater (capt), S Etherington, S Davies, M Duce (wk), N Gharni, C Thompson, J Davies, D Clow, R McCarthy, W Briggs, M Cockshott.

Bradford & Bingley Seconds (home to Baildon): P Clarke (capt), A Clarke, W Allitt, M Clarke, W Ali, J Roach, A Swallow, D Trowers, R Dunn, R Slater, R Pratt (wk).

Cullingworth (at Ingrow): D Hall, P Poole, D Robinson, G Marshall, C Welch, S Welch, L Sumpter, O Khatab, C Ratcliffe, A Powis, N Brett. Reserve: G Todd.

Cullingworth Seconds (home to Riddlesden): G Fletcher, M Rendell, I Holmes, P Clark, R Clark, I Wilson, R Hogg, G Todd, A Partington, A Campbell, J Terry. Reserve: S Holmes.

Denholme (at Airedale Seconds): A Taylor, P Briggs, D Feather, J Greenwood, T Greenwood, L Pickles, S Rogers, I Smith, I Spencer, Richard Taylor, Robert Taylor.

Denholme Seconds (home to Eldwick & Gilstead Seconds): B Taylor, M Armitage, K Briggs, A Gerrard, C Gerrard, R Green, P Greenwood, D Manning, T Priestley, T Shires, J Wilkinson. Reserve: J Rogers. Sunday (home to Foulridge Seconds in Cowling Cup): P Briggs, J Greenwood, T Greenwood in for A Gerrard, C Gerrard, J Wilkinson.

Oakworth (home to Cononley): J Gallagher, R Hopkinson, M Scarborough, S Filkin, D Duffy, J Hainsworth, J Ellis, R Linden, B Lawn, L Taylor, J Davison.

Oakworth Seconds (at Eldwick & Gilstead): S Howell, M Davison, P Carter, M Clegg, J Hollingsworth, R Hollingsworth, J Copperwaite, G Hudson, S Powell, I Jackson, L Wrathall.

Oakworth Thirds (home to Gargrave Seconds): A Fothergill, G Fothergill, O Stell, T Hudson, S Nettleton, J Sharples, J Lee, M Lee, M Pedder, J Cawood, J Keighley. Reserves: J Atkinson, J Geldard, B Howell, O Huck, N Sharples, B Wedge.